Powerball coming to California next year

No need to drive to Arizona: You'll soon be able to buy a $2 Powerball ticket - and the 1-in-175 million dream of a jackpot that comes with it - right here in California.

The state Lottery Commission voted Thursday to join Powerball next year.

Sales will begin here on April 8 for the April 10 drawing. In a statement, lottery director Robert O'Neill said the addition of Powerball will bring an extra $50 million to $100 million to state coffers, money that's earmarked for education.

The state's decision comes on the same day Powerball officials announced that two winning tickets were sold in Arizona and Missouri for the record $579.9 million jackpot. The search is on for the winners.

California already has Mega Millions, a similar multistate lottery, but people had asked the Lottery Commission to add Powerball.

Drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday, though Powerball tends to get heavy attention only when the jackpots grow into the hundreds of millions.

Jackpots start at $40 million.

California becomes the 43rd state to participate in Powerball. The only ones left that don't are Nevada, Alaska, Utah, Wyoming, Mississippi, Alabama and Hawaii.

The game also is available in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.